The Grizzlies could win their first-round series against top-seeded San Antonio, and it wouldn’t even begin to undo the spindliest string that helps wind the Spurs’ gigantic ball of accomplishments. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich—they are greats of the game.

We all know that.

But now Zach Randolph, Memphis’ beast of a power forward, has a shot that rivals the most famous postseason basket in the career of Tim Duncan — whom many believe is the best power forward in the game’s history.

It may be the shot that sinks San Antonio once and for all.

You remember that 3-pointer Duncan hit to force double-overtime in Game 1 vs. Phoenix in the first round of the 2008 playoffs? It was his first 3 all season. The Spurs went on to win that bloody affair and that extraordinarily hard-fought series.

By the way, some might say the Suns haven’t been quite the same since.

In the final minute Saturday night, with the Grizzlies leading 88-86, the ball found Randolph standing alone on the right wing. Duncan didn’t leave the lane to defend Randolph, so the 6-9, 265-pounder did what any closer would do — he jacked it, even though he’d made only eight 3-pointers all season.

Bang.

“I didn’t assume that was in his arsenal that late in the game,” said Duncan.

All assumptions are out the window in this series. The Grizzlies began it with zero postseason victories in their history. Now they have two, with an opportunity to go up 3-1 on Monday night.

Oh, how that would rouse the NBA rabble.

The funny thing about Randolph’s shot is that it wasn’t supposed to happen, not even once he got his hands on the ball with several seconds remaining on the shot clock.

Only Randolph was supposed to swing the ball to someone else; Hollins wouldn’t say whom in case a similar situation arises down the line. No matter.

“I had space to see it,” Randolph said, “so I just shot the shot.”

What isn’t funny is the very real possibility that the Spurs are on their last legs. Not only because Ginobili has a right arm injury that continues to bother him, or because 36-year-old Antonio McDyess left the court in excruciating pain with a hand injury during the fourth quarter. (He appears to be all right.)

No, this is mostly about legs — Duncan’s legs.

It’ll be Duncan’s 35th birthday on Monday, but in Game 3 he looked older than that. Dozens of playoff games will do that to a guy.

The all-time-great had 13 points, but over the game’s final eight minutes, he was close to a non-factor on offense. Duncan made the only shot he attempted in that span, while the Grizzlies let big men Randolph and Marc Gasol eat.

In fairness, Duncan hasn’t been the Spurs’ closer for a long time. Ginobili, Parker, even reserve Matt Bonner take more late-game shots.

But when will it be OK to state the obvious: Is Duncan no longer one of the premier players in the game?

When will it be acceptable to wonder out loud: Might an up-and-comer such as Randolph be better than Duncan?

This is more about Duncan’s legs—and the nearing of the end of the Spurs’ run as contenders—than it is about the rise of Randolph’s team. The Grizzlies are rough and rugged, perhaps too strong inside and too willing to get bloody for the Spurs to win this series, but the Grizzlies are still a million miles from championship contention.